Pope to meet with youth in St. Peter's Square for 2010 World Youth Day

Vatican City, Mar 19, 2010 / 10:44 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The 25th annual World Youth Day is to be celebrated on a diocesan level this year, which also applies to the Diocese of Rome. The diocese's bishop, Pope Benedict XVI, will host young people in St. Peter’s Square in celebration.

According to diocesan organizers, the diocese has invited young people from 15 to 35 years old to St. Peter's Square on the afternoon of March 25 for “a special event of festivity and prayer.”

The Italian Church’s SIR news agency announced on Friday that among those in attendance, 5,000 young military personnel will be there to see the Pope.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of World Youth Day (WYD) in Rome and the 10th of the celebration in nearby Tor Vergata.

The Holy Father released his official message for WYD 2010 last Monday, in which he revisits Pope John Paul II’s letter to inaugurate the first World Youth Day. The message features the rich young man who asks Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”